Everyone keeps saying the Activities Director is supposed to go (along with her assistant) but she isn't certified. So all of the CNAs are getting pulled off the floor leaving the rest of us shorthanded. It's becoming a big issue. It's hard enough to get everyone to come in; we don't just have spare people running around with nothing to do. It isn't just doctor's appointments, there are several residents that go to dialysis on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
I need to come up with some suggestions and was wondering how this is handled at other facilities. The DON is trying to get the Activites Director put through a CNA class, but that hasn't happened yet.
I have been an Activities Leader in the past, but am currently a CNA...I have never gone on an appointment with a resident as an Activities Leader, but have escorted them to procedures, like xrays, MRI"s and such as a CNA in a LTC setting. However, when I did home visit CNA work, I did bring my clients to their appointments, including dialysis. I live in Ma.
Specializes in 6 yrs LTC, 1 yr MedSurg, Wound Care.
I guess it's different for different places then. I didn't get to talk to the DON today since she wasn't there. I don't see why the family doesn't go. That would make a lot more sense. Plus they would be able to keep up with the residents condition. Someone told me today that one of my little ladies does have family that escorts her.
I give everybody "kudos" for answering. I appreciate your help and that's one of the things I always look at when reading posts. :)
At my LTC a lot of the times the family goes with them, For those who don't go with their familys they get the metro mobility bus to the doc and its up the resident if they want an aid, and which aid they want. It's always the one who works with them all the time. Then the DON puts the shift up on the sign up for the on call workers
I guess it's different for different places then. I didn't get to talk to the DON today since she wasn't there. I don't see why the family doesn't go. That would make a lot more sense. Plus they would be able to keep up with the residents condition. Someone told me today that one of my little ladies does have family that escorts her.
I give everybody "kudos" for answering. I appreciate your help and that's one of the things I always look at when reading posts. :)
Well you have two types of family members:
Type A: The family who visits their loved ones, calls to check on them, and is very involved in their treatment, condition, etc.
Type B: The kind who drop them off @ the facility & never return.
Sadly the Type B's are more prevelant than Type A's.
At one of my previous jobs, there was an aide on day shift that would leave with one specific patient to take them to dialysis, but I am not so sure about whether that was an approved event, or not. The facility I am at now would never ever let that happen. The families pick up and (most of the time) transport the patients to their appointments and back. Sometimes a medical transport company will do the transporting and the family will meet them at the doctor's office, but we never go with. We have so much to do with everyone on the floor, I can not imagine being short handed because someone left to go with a patient, I would go crazy!
Specializes in 6 yrs LTC, 1 yr MedSurg, Wound Care.
Sadly the Type B's are more prevelant than Type A's.
This is so sad. I'm pushing 6 months at my facility (first CNA job) and Ive only seen a handful of family members. The wife of one of the men only comes to drop off ciggarettes for him and pick up his social security check. I couldn't imagine treating my HUSBAND that way!
Our LTC recently recieved a new transportation van which is smaller than the regular bus and has added a Transportation Aide to the staff. The Transportation Aide is responsible for taking the residents to their appointments and such. Of course the bus and it's driver are still available if needed.
I know the nursing home up the road from the store i worked at. They had two certain cna's that took the patients to their appointments. That is all they did all day long. I so wanted that job. But now i am trying to get into the activities assistant thing. I lost my cna certification so i am not sure if i may to go back and get it. Most jobs i have looked at wanted you to be certified. now i know why.
In my facility when a resident has an appointment outside of the facility, the DON asks anyone who's off that day if they want to accompany the resident. Usually its really easy to get someone to do it, its overtime and its easy enough. We use a local wheelchair van to transport them.
dream& achieve
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I have been an Activities Leader in the past, but am currently a CNA...I have never gone on an appointment with a resident as an Activities Leader, but have escorted them to procedures, like xrays, MRI"s and such as a CNA in a LTC setting. However, when I did home visit CNA work, I did bring my clients to their appointments, including dialysis. I live in Ma.